He smiled down at her as she slept peacefully next to him. He carefully pulled himself out of bed. Her birthday was tomorrow, and he needed to put the finishing touches on his plans. He looked around the room, where had his pants gotten to? He spotted them next to the vanity, under pieces of jewelry that had fallen out a now open box. He laughed to himself, thinking it'd be nice for him to clean up the mess that their previous activities had once again caused. He fumbled with the small lamp as he turned it on before putting it in its rightful place on the vanity. He picked up each piece carefully, not wanting to break anything, when his eyes fell on a small silver necklace. It had a blank dog tag attached to it. His breath caught in his throat as he flipped it over, the word FRIEND engraved on the other side.
Rogue rubbed her eyes as she began to stir, "Remy, what are you doing over there, sugar? It's still early, come back to bed. I'll clean that up later."
His voice was shaky, "Where, ah, where did you get this necklace? The dog tag."
"I've had it forever," she yawned, "I don't remember when I did but Irene said I made it. It's so silly, you'd think after all these years I would have gotten rid of it. But for some reason I could never bring myself to do it."
"What happened to the other one," his voice was barely above a whisper, "This one says friend, shouldn't there be one that says best?"
She stretched, "I'm not sure. Must have given it to someone or something. Why? You seem awfully shaken up about a little necklace."
He shook his head, placing the necklace back in the box, "It's nothing. Try to get some more sleep. I'm gonna get an early start. I have some loose ends to tie up."
He plopped the box back on the vanity and pulled on his pants. She giggled and pointed to the door as she watched him look around for his shirt. He turned off the lamp and walked over to her bed, placing a light kiss on her forehead before grabbing his shirt and walking out the door. Back inside his room he opened his desk drawer, pulling out the partner to Rogue's necklace. He looked at the word carefully. The handwriting was the same, it was her. He felt a whole new wave of emotions wash over him. After all this time, after moving on and giving up hope. He smiled as a single tear rolled down the side of his face. He'd found his way back to her and he hadn't even realized it.
He placed the necklace back in the desk drawer, a sense of purpose coursing through his veins. He wondered to himself when he hair had turned white as he set to work. He couldn't help but think that Henry would get a kick out of this when they'd go to visit. He was sure Jean Luc's head would explode as the realization of just who she was set it. On their last trip to New Orleans Jean Luc didn't have time to get a good look at her. He doubted Jean Luc even remembered the little girl that lived down the street. It was ironic and satisfying to him that he ended up with the only girl that Jean Luc had disapproved of.
It had taken a few hours, but he was just about finished when he heard a light knock on the door. He scrambled to the door as she began to open it. He stood in the small crack and looked down at her questioning face. She backed away as he slipped out, closing the door behind him with a light click. She looked him over and noticed he was still in the same clothes he'd left her room in, the same clothes he'd worn the day before. His hair was a complete mess and it looked like he hadn't showered yet. What had he been doing since he left her room in the early hours of the morning?
"What brings you here petite," he asked, hand still on his doorknob.
"I was coming to see if you'd had breakfast yet but judging by the way you look I'd safely guess not," she crossed her arms over her chest, "What have you been doing in there this whole time?"
He let go of the doorknob and gestured towards his room, "In there? Oh, nothing much. Just relaxing, finishing up some…things."
"Uh-huh, well why don't we go in, get you washed and changed," she reached for the door.
"NO," he grabbed her shoulders, "I mean, no way am I going to hold you up. It's your day after all. I'm sure you have tons of plans and it's a mess in there right now. Plus, don't you have a training session with Logan, and you have been putting off going to see Beast for a day or two now. Why don't you go do that and I'll catch up with you later?"
He spun her around and gave her a light push, "Alright, but you know I'm gonna find out why you're acting so funny eventually."
"Oh, you know me," he said as he slipped back into his room, "I'm just a funny kind of guy. Okay, love you, see you late," before closing his door again.
Rogue shook her head and walked down the stairs. What on earth had gotten into him today? First this morning with her old necklace and now she wasn't allowed in his room. Had something set him off? Maybe he was just nervous about her birthday. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a water bottle. Whatever the case may be she needed to temporarily push it from her mind and prepare for any test that Beast was about to run. She didn't like to admit when Remy was right, but she had been putting off going to see Beast. Deep down she didn't want to know what the results might show. She took a deep breath as she walked through the Med Lab doors.
He checked his watch. It was nearly nine o'clock at night. He knew he said he'd see her later, but he didn't think she'd make it so much later. He lifted himself off of his bed. Maybe she'd gotten some bad news and was still in the gym to blow off steam. She had a habit of losing track of time when she was focused in the gym. He opened the door to her fist, which quickly dropped. She looked stunning. Her make-up had been done, her hair curled and to his surprise she was wearing a deep green, off the shoulder dress that stopped just above the knee. She blushed as he stared at her in wonder.
She fidgeted with the dress, "It's too much, I told Kitty it would be. She said you had something special planned. Sorry it took so long…I'll go change."
"Non," he grabbed her arm as she turned to change, "I mean, you can if you want to, but I think you look, I mean, that dress is…and your hair. You're so, wow. Wait right here for just one more minute."
She stood their dumbfounded as he closed the door on her again. Through the door she heard him curse as he fumbled around his room. He re-emerged a minute later, asking her to close her eyes. He took her hands, guiding her into his bedroom. He placed her in the center of the room before clicking off the lights.
"Okay," he whispered from behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders, "Open your eyes."
She looked around the room in wonder. It looked like something out of a dream, candles dimly lit the room while rose petals lined the floor. In the center of the bed lay two red roses, a white one dipped in black lay in between them. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, kissing the side of her face. She placed her hands on his forearms, leaning back into him.
"Do you like it," he whispered.
She turned to face him, "This is beautiful. You did all this for me?"
"Yes," he looked at his clock, "But you have to wait until midnight for your gifts. So what would you like to do until then?"
She looked him in the eyes, "Tell me why? You could have anyone in the world, why pick me?"
He pulled her over to the bed, "Well, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather show you," he placed her hands on either side of his side, "Think of it as practice and please don't think too badly of me."
She closed her eyes, opening them to a classroom. She watched as a little boy in sunglasses walked over to a brown-haired girl's desk. She had to do a double take. That was…her. Before her mutation manifested and turned the front of her hair white. But, but how?
"Hi," she heard him say.
She looked up and smiled, "Hi."
"What do you wanna do today," he asked, pulling a stool up to her desk.
She handed him a pencil, "We're gonna draw in my notebook if that's alright,"
He smiled, "That sounds like fun. Hey Anna," he whispered, "Thanks for being my friend."
She looked at him, "Don't thank me, I have no reason to not be your friend. They're just jealous because your eyes are so pretty, you're special."
He blushed, "Thanks. I think you're special too."
She looked around as the surroundings shifted. The two children sat in a tree house, a deck of cards lay in front of them. The boy held a card up to her as it began to glow. Rogue's hands covered her mouth as she watched her younger self smile. Remy?
"That's amazing," she giggled, "Does it hurt you?"
He pulled the charge back, "Non and as long as I hold whatever I charge it won't hurt anyone else," he looked at her, "It really doesn't scare you?"
"You'd never hurt me," she looked back at the cards, "Which card is your favorite?"
His thought for a moment, "Which one do you think is my favorite?"
She cheerfully picked up the Queen of Hearts, "I think it's this one."
He laughed, "How'd you know?"
Rogue could hear his voice, "Honestly, until that day I'd never had a favorite."
She could feel her face grow hot as his memories shifted once more. She felt like she could barely catch her breath. How could she not remember him? Having him as a friend so long ago? She looked to see him pick something up off the ground. The dog tag, her dog tag. The word BEST was engraved into it. She'd given the partner to her own to him. She thought back to that morning. His reaction, he had made the connection after seeing hers. She watched as his younger self looked up to see her younger self holding one in her hand. He smiled as she put it on. Following her lead, he put his on too and tucked it under his shirt. She waved to him then pulled her head back through her window. He smiled to himself.
She heard his voice once more, "I'm sorry chere. I'm so sorry."
She looked at the front of his house, an odd sinking feeling filling her chest. She felt her hands begin to tremble. Sorry? What could he possibly have to be sorry for?
Rogue knocked on Remy's door the day before she had to leave. He answered with a smile that immediately disappeared when he saw her face. They both walked to the tree house, hand in hand. Once inside the tree house Rogue began to cry, hugging Remy as tight as she could. He didn't know what was going on, but he did his best to sooth her. She pulled away a few moments later, her eyes puffy and red.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," she said between sniffles.
"Well that's okay," he smiled, "I'll just see you when you get back, nothing to cry about."
"No," she shook her head angrily, "I'm leaving, like moving away. I won't be coming back. This is my last day here. It why I haven't been in school. My mommas needed me to pack my things."
Remy's eyes started to tear, "You can't move. You're the only friend I've got. Can't they stay here, or they can move and leave you here with us?"
She shook her head, trying her best not to cry. Remy hugged her, allowing her to hug him back. When they pulled away he grabbed her face and kissed her. Her eyes widened as he pulled away. He said he was sorry and had no idea why he did that, it only made them both cry harder. Rogue heard her name being called. They both climbed down the tree house, walking through the lawn hand in hand.
"I'm gonna miss you Remy," she whispered.
He buried his face in her strawberry scented hair, "I'm gonna miss you too Anna."
They gave each other one final hug. They pulled apart and he walked up the steps to his house. He turned as the sound of a screeching car came out of nowhere. He ran towards the street, but the car was going way too fast, he wouldn't get to her in time. She stood there paralyzed as the car tried to stop. He felt like time stopped as she went flying backwards, the car finally coming to a complete stop. His eyes grew wide with horror as he watched her small frame hit the pavement again.
"No," he whispered to himself.
Rogue's eyes grew wide in horror, feeling sick to her stomach, "Oh god."
The driver jumped out of the car as Raven and Remy came rushing towards her. Her eyes opened for a moment, his face looming over her. She smiled as she looked into his eyes. They were always so pretty to her. He looked down at her, tears streaming down his face. People were talking to her but she didn't understand what they were saying.
"Anna," he whispered before her eyes closed again.